Zelda orchestra provides legendary performance of series’ music on Stephen Colbert’s Late Show

This year marked a huge change for American broadcaster CBS’ Late Show. After 22 years of hosting the program, David Letterman finally stepped down, and the reins of the show were handed to Stephen Colbert, who took over in early September.

The move instantly attracted fans who’d been hungry for more Colbert since the final episode of The Colbert Report aired last December, and as proof that the Late Show is hoping to be more relevant to this younger demographic, the new host recently welcomed the members of The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses to perform music from the series live in front of the studio audience.

While the musicians that make up the Symphony of the Goddesses aren’t Nintendo employees, their musical endeavors go beyond simply a group of fans getting together and covering the storied series’ soundtrack. While the pieces of music themselves are taken from the games, the arrangements are original, but also have the nod of approval from Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma and composer Koji Kondo.

In other words, the group takes its performances very seriously, and nowhere it that more apparent than during its appearance on The Late Show.

The first piece performed comes from The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, the series’ newest title which is being released for the 3DS this week. You don’t join a Zelda orchestra without being a seriously thorough fan of the franchise, though, so at the 1:13 mark, the notes being played change to those of the classic Legend of Zelda theme, which sounds stunning coming from a full complement of talented musicians, including a live choir.

Coming just days before Tri Force Heroes’ release date, cynics might scoff that this is nothing more than a clinically crafted marketing move by Nintendo and CBS. Colbert is a well-known fan of video games and the fantasy genre, though, and his enthusiasm seems genuine, especially compared to the vague confusion predecessor Letterman showed when hosting virtual idol Hatsune Miku.

Alas, the Symphony of the Goddesses’ time was short, being as its members are the middle of a tour that will take them across the United States and around western Europe. Still, the Zelda theme hasn’t worn out its welcome in the roughly 30 years since gamers first heard it, so no doubt the video’s replay button is getting lots of use.